Born Optimistic

28/12/2020

A new type of music TV show makes has it's world premiere tomorrow night on RTÉ One TV in Ireland. Ireland In Music features musicians playing live outdoors in iconic locations. Clannad, Lisa Hannigan, Mundy, Wallis Bird, Hothouse Flowers, The Stunning, Ailbhe Reddy, Rosie Carney, Jealous Of The Birds, Kíla, Delush, Tolu Makay, Denise Chalia, Godknows, Murli, Bridin, Sharon Shannon, Saint Sister and Mark Redmond feature.

18/12/2020

Ireland In Music Dec 29th RTÉ One 8pm in Ireland. Rest of the World 2021!

17/12/2020

Dce 29th RTE One 8pm!

‘Ireland in Music’ is a new film that captures and showcases some of the country’s top musicians performing at Ireland’s most spectacular locations, including the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren in County Clare.

02/12/2020

You can now see and hear Mundy's fab single 'Dark Long Enough', part of the Tradfest Ireland In Music extravaganza and an instant classic!

Singer Mundy has released Dark Long Enough, his first new music in five years and the track will be performed as part of Ireland in Music, RTÉ's upcoming celebration of Irish music and Ireland itself.

02/12/2020

Born Optimistic got to work with Tradfest to create Ireland In Music - a part of the national conversation about the value of music and music makers. It celebrates our island & musicians & creates a global platform for Ireland RTE One Dec29th

Ireland in Music is a new film which captures some of the country's top musicians performing at Ireland's most spectacular locations. Producer/director Donal Scannell writes for Culture on RTÉ about the background and inspiration for the show

01/12/2020

Born Optimistic Records is pleased as punch to be announcing our first ever single release. What a single it is. An anthem to blow the dark away by the funky bard Mundy produced by Delush More info as to what's going on coming tomorrow but you can get a preview at this link. https://buff.ly/33xkYxT

06/08/2020

This is an extraordinary time for brilliant new Irish music. BRÍDÍN is out of this world. Her new single, The Salmon's Tale features Colm Mac Con Iomaire and this video makes you want to be in Sligo now!

The Salmon's Tale (feat. Colm Mac Con Iomaire) My new single is now available on all streaming platforms. I'm so lucky to have worked with such an amazing te...

30/07/2020

As of today our podcast has been removed from . We longer felt comfortable being part of their business model so the only thing within our power to do was take the podcast down. Spotify is not good for musicians. Use the free tier as a discovery tool if you wish but please spend your €10 a month buying the music of artists you love on places like

23/07/2020

It's sad that the Green Party doesn't have room for voices like
Saoirse McHugh. We don't have time to dilly dally on political matters when it comes to Climate Change. There's no doubt Saoirse will make good use of her time. Check out her BornOptimistic interview here. Recorded last year, it sheds loads of light on where she's coming from.

Saoirse McHugh - Green Party European Election sensation talks about how to unfeck the world and what she'd do with her time f the world wasn't fecked! Plus other stuff too about why coalitions with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are bad and what veg she grows.

19/07/2020

The incredible and inspiring Shirley Collins has a new album out. The interview I recorded with her last time she was in Dublin has some fantastic stories - including her memories of being shot at by a German plane during WWII!
Happy 85th Shirley xx

From dodging bullets in WWII to recording folk songs in the Appalachians with Alan Lomax to losing her voice for thirty years, Shirley Collins regales with amazing tales.

10/06/2020

Sometimes there's no greater sound than hearing a singer-songwriter all of a sudden surrounded by a band!. The wonderful Niamh Regan has an amazing single out today called 'Save The Day'. Sounds fantastic!

track by Niamh Regan